Pietà shoot down Vittoriosa

Vittoriosa Stars 0
Pietà Hotspurs 1

Pietà Hotspurs maintained their good form of late when they beat Vittoriosa Stars 1-0 courtesy of a first-half goal by Terence Vella.

It was a merited win for Clive Mizzi's team who created the better chances throughout. With Carl Pulo absent, the Hotspurs were again inspired by Bulgarian forward Martin Deanov.

The first period turned out to be a drab affair with Pietà dictating play for long spells as Vittoriosa only looked threatening towards the end of the half.

The Hotspurs almost struck after two minutes but Simon Shead flicked the ball wide from a Deanov cross.

Pietà kept up the pressure but had to wait until the 23rd minute to break the stalemate. Deanov's firm drive was partially blocked by Vittoriosa goalkeeper Juergen Micallef and in came Vella who tucked the ball home.

Shead wasted another golden opportunity on the half hour when he fired the ball over from routine distance after another Deanov delivery.

Vittoriosa responded six minutes from half-time when Ndubisi Chukunyere's shot from just inside the box finished inches wide.

The Cottonera side dominated the final stages of the first half. On 42 minutes, Chukunyere served Anthony Eviparker who imme-diately squared the ball to Kenneth Abela but the latter shot against the side-netting.

Just before the break, Eviparker's header was parried away for a corner by Pietà's goalkeeper Miguel Montfort.

Early in the second half, Pietà should have made it 2-0. Deanov burst through the Vittoriosa defence and came one-on-one with Micallef but his effort was blocked by the Vittoriosa goalkeeper.

On 57 minutes, Shead ran into the box but instead of passing to the unmarked Deanov, he opted to shoot and the ball flew wide.

Vittoriosa briefly halted Pietà's pressure when an Eviparker drive from 25 metres sailed high and wide.

Three minutes later, Shead missed another gilt-edged chance. The former Tarxien striker won possession but he delayed his shot and Micallef eventually blocked his attempt.

The Hotspurs were then denied by the woodwork as Dominic Mifsud's long-range shot hit the upright.

Six minutes from time, Shead controlled the ball well but his shot on the turn was off target.

Moments after the final whistle, referee Juergen Spiteri showed the red card to Vittoriosa substitute Johann Spiteri for dissent.

Vittoriosa Stars
J. Micallef, N. Chukunyere (L. Scerri), J. Camilleri, S. Privitelli, K. Darmanin, C. Casha, K. Abela, D. Grech, P. Aquilina, A. Eviparker, S. Calleja.

Pietà Hotspurs
M. Montfort, J. Delia, I. Grech, M. Deanov (S. Micallef), S. Ciscaldi, S. Shead, K. Robinson (C. Cassar), J.L. Poulangoye, T. Vella (D. Mifsud), K. Cassar, S. Pace.

Referee: Juergen Spiteri.

Man of the match: Martin Deanov (Pietà Hotspurs).